Closure assembly for tanks and other containers



Jan. 5, 1954 D. M. HlNTZ 2,665,028

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR TANKS AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed April 7, 1950 Patented Jan. 5, 1954 CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR TANKS AND OTHER CONTAINERS Donald M. Hintz, Northbrook, Ill., assignor to Culligan, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1950, Serial No. 154,698

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel closure assembly for the access opening of a tank or other container or vessel, and especially to a lovel leak-proof cap or closure for sealing the fluid contents of the container, either gaseous or liquid and under pressure or vacuum, against leakage.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel closure unit or assembly adapted for use with a pressure or gravity tank or container of the type that must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage, but which closure is susceptible of being easily and readily opened or removed to gain access to the interior of the container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel cap or closure so constructed and arranged as to require no pressure or force to efiect sealing, other than that limited or negligible amount necessary to overcome the friction of the ring. In prior types of structures designed ior anchoring or locking a cap or closure on a container or vessel of the type here contemplated for containing a fluid under pressure, the application of considerable pressure against a gasket disposed between the vessel and the cap in order to efiect a seal is required. In the present assembly, the cap or closure with its novel sealing arrangement is self-sealing in operation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel closure assembly including a novel means and manner of securing a rotatable type closure against accidental or unintentional removal when under fluid pressure.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel safety locking means and mechanism for a cap or closur whereby to insure against accidental or unintentional removal or displacement when fluid pressure is exerted against the under side of the cap or closure by the fluid in the container.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts,

features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a tank equipped with the novel closure assembly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical crosssection through the closure assembly taken in a plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in side or end elevation of the novel cap or closure for the assembly.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the dis assembled flanged sleeve or collar upon which the:

sleeve ll mounted in the access opening and providing a, passage l2 opening into a tank or container [3, the cap or closure sealing the pas,- sage or opening in the sleeve against the escape of fluid, either gaseous or liquid, from the container. The tank or container shown is of the type now employed in water softener installations, but this showing is but illustrative in that the invention is not limited thereto but may be used on any type of tank or vessel containing fluid under pressure or vacuum, and regardless of the size of the contemplated installation.

The novel cap or closure Ill is provided with a depending annular part I4 having on its circumference adjacent its lower end an outwardly opening continuous channel l5 adapted to receive and retain a resilient O shaped or toroidal ring it of flexible rubber-like material, preferably natural or compounded synthetic rubber. This 0 or toroidal ring projects beyond the conflnes of the channel and seats and forms a selfsealing contact with the inner surface of the internal annular reduction ll of the flanged sleeve H. This flanged sleeve is shown as externally threaded at 18 and detachably received in an internally threaded collar I9 that may be welded or brazed to the tank or vessel l3. However, the flanged sleeve may be connected directly to the container without the use of the separate collar l9, if desired. The cap or closure is further provided with an annular depending skirt 2|. spaced from the depending part M to form an annular and downwardly opening recess or channel 22 to receive the upper flanged end 23 of the sleeve II. A transverse upstanding rib or projection 24 is formed integral with or aflixed to the exterior of the cap or closure and extends diametrically across the same with each of its ends projecting downwardly over the depending 24 and inturned to form a locking lug or ear 25. This rib not only provides a strengthening means or reinforcement for the cap but also provides a handle or grasping portion for facilitating tpr n ing of the cap in its assembly and removal.

The upper end 23 of the flanged sleeve H is recessed to form entering notches 2.6 and elon; gated slots 21 each adapted to receive a lug or ear 25, and a flange 28 provided with a det ept or depending safety catch 29 for preventing accidental or unintentional turning and release or the lug or ear 25 when the latter is received in the end .of the slot 21 b neath the han s :23 nd essure within the tank or vessel iorces the cap or closure upwardly with each lug or ear 25 seating against the lower edge of flange 12.8 and locked behind the detent or catch 2.9.

Thus when the cap or closure i is mounted upon the flanged sleeve ll with the lugs tor ears 25 disposed within the entering notches 25, turning this cap or closure in a clockwise direction causes these lugs or ears 25 to enter the slots 2- beneath the flanges 28. Fluid pressure within the container l3 elevates the cap or closure and cause the e lees r ear t ea against .the ba or undersurface of the flange 2i? any tendeh fo lin -59 e .c hshi-t thihhi i hh hhi clockwise direction would be prevented by its en,- se meh wi he hei ht h safet pat h 1 It will thus be evident ih ith eisehnhhht and IQmQ P .the cap .Q c o ure Withhh lh i h ,thh'p ess in t s l 9? ystem .11 h h his Whee pl ye wouldre uire the aphl hat hhh shth hh fo c to e r s he can qh lhshre hshhhe Bhfin a ,to a ew to th lugs 9 9 lea th .d h h eih y ha ch h d t Kath e th ca 9. clo ure in a \9 9@=l i zd eei hn i h l t h d h es ed. a ask mhhshlhlh n ih t llat hh A h h ihm tehh i a hh h th h ehi venho is th t .h hhes h e ih ha the tha or removed when the occasion requires.

As lfor-vthe size. of the access (opening and of the cap o osu rthes nay heofanydimensionsrequired ,or suitable :for the purpose, and used for closing n sealing l -openings the cover may :be suitably hinged and additional .spaced lugs or ears may be provided for :most effective engagement and sealing. fI his-vvould eliminate the use of leg bolts commonly used for closures.

fItWiu thus -be seen "that the novel closure assembly of the present invention has a wide application of uses and upon vessels varying through a wide range h izes examp e thi nh' 4 for steam boilers, or any other type of large ves sel where a closure of this type may be employed.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A closure assembly for sealing an opening in a tank containing a fluid under pressure, comprising an upstanding sleeve in the opening in the tank and provided with an internal cylindrical reduction spaced from the upper end of the sleeve, n an ill closing an al n he rip n n through the sleeve including a cylindrical flange depending into the opening in the sleeve and a resilient sealing ring carried by said flange adjacent its lower end and having sealing contact with the interior of the sleeve when moved into contact with $11. cylindrical surface of the reduction, notched recesses provided at spaced points about the upper end of the sleeve, a circumferential skirt depending from the cap in spaced relation with the flange to provide a downwardly opening annular recess therebetween for the reception of the u per an 9 t s ee an u t n in i rigidly afliigied o and'eisi' hdi e fi hi i hll a es the cap for rotating the gap into'lockin'g en agement with th sleeveand provided at its opDQS te ends with inwardly projectin ears adapted to be received in the notched recesses at the upper end of the sleeve, and a safety catch in each recess for locking and retaining the ears against accidental .displacen entiwhen the pressure within the tank ch rt d s h h hh- 2. d closure assemblyfor closing and sealing an opening in a container providing access to the interior thereof, a sleeve encompassing the opening" and having an upstanding flange and an int ernal annular reduction intermediate its ends,

spaced outwardly and upwardly opening notches proy ided'in the outer circumference of the flange of the SIeeVeQacap for closing the opening and s ealing the 'contents of the container, and pm, vided .witha dependingcircumferential flange and depending annular flange of substantially reater depth than and spaced inwardly from the lcir cumierential flange to provide an annular downwardly opening channel therebetween ,adapted to receive the upstanding flange on the sleeve, an outwardly opening recess in'the depending nular flange cf the cap'adjacent the lower end thereoff a resilientb sealing ring mounted in said last mentioned recess'and projecting outwardly therefrom for sealing contact with the cylindrical interior of the annular reductionoi the flange on the sleeve, inwardly projecting ,ears .on theicap adapted to .be received inlthe ndtches of the sleeve, and a catch for maintaining the ears engaged in the notches. eclosure assembly forel'os ing and sealing an access opening in a container against theesape of fluid under pressure, comprising a sleeve mounted in vthe access opening havingia part projecting beyond the'exte'rior of the'iconta-iner and having at its ,upper end upwardly and outwardly opening spaced recessesfa locking flange and a depending locking ,detent at phased oflthe flange, 1a 'Icap providing a closure for the :opening and having' an annular depending skirt and a depending annular flange forming acircumferential wall spaced inwardly of ,the skirt and .forming with the skirt an annular downwardly'opening channel for receiving the upper end of the sleeve, anoutwardly opening annular channel in the lower end of the flange, a resilient sealing ring disposed within the last vmentioned channel and hat/Jean the interior of the sle ve and the exterior of the circumferential ,wall of the dependin nnular 'clhsh ie ma c hennl h sh .cla hreie 1o flhhseh h'hh' he ihhhi r b uel e r dihediamtri- 5 6 cally across the upper surface of the cap with the References Cited in the file of this patent ends of the rib having inturned spaced lugs carried UNITED STATES PATENTS by and rigidly aifixed to the annular skirt of the cap and adapted to be received in the spaced re- Number Name D cesses of the sleeve and when the cap is rotated 5 218411 Wassmer 1879 in one direction each lug seats beneath a locking 1,456,333 Nelson May 22, 1923 flange and behind a locking detent and is held 2516302 GFaham July 25, thereagainst by pressure from within the con- 2534'164 FlPch 121 1950 tainer and exerted against the interior of the 2552o53 Mmer May 1951 cap. 10

DCNALD M. HINTZ. 

